Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez (left) stands with his attorney Michael Fee as he was arraigned Wednesday on charges of murder. / Pool photo, USA TODAY Sports

by Lindsay H. Jones, USA TODAY Sports

by Lindsay H. Jones, USA TODAY Sports

Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez will remain in jail on a first-degree murder charge after a judge in Bristol County (Mass.) Superior Court denied his appeal Thursday to be released on bail.

The decision from Judge Renee P. Dupuis upholds the ruling of district court Judge Daniel J. O'Shea issued Wednesday after Hernandez was arraigned on the murder charge and five weapons charges in relation to the slaying of Odin Lloyd. The bullet-riddled body of the 27-year-old former semi-pro football player and friend of Hernandez was discovered in an industrial park near Hernandez's home June 17.

"This gentleman, either by himself or with two other individuals that he requested come to the Commonwealth, basically, in a cold-blooded fashion, killed a person because that person disrespected him," Dupuis said. "If that's true, and based upon presentation it seems to be, I'm not confident that type of individual would -- he obviously doesn't adhere to societal rules. The idea that I can release him on a bracelet and he would comply with court rules is not something that I am willing to accept."

Hernandez's defense team, led by attorney James Sultan, argued that Hernandez should have been freed on bail because Hernandez was not a risk to flee while he was awaiting charges since last week, was a solid citizen and homeowner in North Attleborough, Mass., and had a longtime fiancee and a 7-month old daughter.

But Judge Dupuis said she did not believe, based on the evidence laid out by Bristol County (Mass.) Assistant District Attorney William McCauley, that Hernandez would adhere to any conditions of release, including high cash bail, GPS monitoring or even house arrest as suggested by the defense.

Dupuis acknowledged that prosecutors have thus far laid out only circumstantial evidence against Hernandez, but said that evidence is "very, very strong."

Sultan had urged Dupuis not to "take the easy way out" by denying bail but to "do the right thing, the courageous thing" instead.

"It is relatively rare, but it is not unheard of," said Sultan, adding that many defendants facing first-degree murder charges do not have the type of stable work and family life that Hernandez does.

Sultan repeated the request made Wednesday by defense attorney Michael Fee that Hernandez not receive any special treatment based on his celebrity as a member of the New England Patriots.

Yet Sultan built much of his argument for bail around Hernandez's football accomplishments, dating to when he starred at Bristol Central High in Connecticut through a Pro Bowl appearance with the Patriots.

Sultan also argued that Hernandez needed specialized medical treatment for football-related shoulder and back injuries. Patriot fans are quite familiar with Hernandez's shoulder problems (he had surgery this offseason), but "serious back injury" had not been revealed by the team.

"He is not just a football player, but one of the best football players in America," Sultan said. "I say this, your Honor, to show he is a young man that is extremely hard working and accomplished in his profession."

Dupuis asked McCauley specifically to detail what prosecutors believe to be Hernandez's motive to kill Lloyd. McCauley said his team was not ready to publicly reveal all of their theories, but did say Hernandez and Lloyd had argued several days before the slaying after Lloyd spoke with people Hernandez had problems with at a Rhode Island bar.

The Boston Globe reported Thursday that police are investigating Hernandez's role in a 2012 double homicide. The Globe, citing unnamed police sources, said police are investigating whether Lloyd might have had information about Hernandez's involvement in those shootings, which could be a motive for the murder of Lloyd.

Also Thursday, the Associated Press reported police have been searching a third-floor unit in a condo complex in Franklin, Mass., that Hernandez had visited in recent weeks, according to the unit's next-door neighbor. Condo resident Carol Bailey said that starting Wednesday and continuing Thursday, police removed items from the modest, two-bedroom rental unit and asked her questions about its occupants.

McCauley, in the bail review hearing, said investigators recovered.22- and .45-caliber ammunition from there. Prosecutors said Wednesday that Lloyd was killed by .45-caliber bullets, and investigators discovered a .22-caliber weapon near Hernandez's home in North Attleborough, Mass.

Hernandez's next scheduled appearance in district court has been tentatively set for July 24 for a probable cause hearing, although prosecutors could convene a grand jury before then to seek a formal indictment, said Chris Dearborn, a criminal law professor at Suffolk University in Boston.